Tulip invests £8m to increase production at abattoir

The investment will support Tulip’s higher-welfare strategy and increase operations in the UK market

UK-based pork processor Tulip has invested £8m in improving production operations at its Ashton abattoir in Manchester.

The investment has been made to increase production operations and support Tulip’s higher-welfare strategy in the UK market. Through the £8m investment, there will be upgrades and a change of layout to the butchering and packaging areas, including introducing new state-of-the-art machinery.

Kurt Pedersen, abattoir and de-boning operations director for Tulip, said: “Tulip, with the support of parent company Danish Crown, has invested heavily in consolidating its position as the UK’s leading higher welfare pig producer, having last year acquired the Easey Holdings pig farming operation.​

“To support the increased volume of outdoor-bred livestock coming through the supply chain, we have implemented some major upgrades, which will help us to increase efficiency, reduce complexity and allow us to link strategically with key customers who are looking to meet consumer demand for higher welfare pork-based products.”​

As well as increasing production operations at the site, services have also been improved to reduce energy usage, which is part of parent company Danish Crown’s commitment to develop a sustainable future for global meat production.

A new car park with capacity for 200 vehicles will be located at the site, which is home to 600 employees, while the loading bays will also be resurfaced to allow for smoother entry and exit and improve the delivery process.

Catherine Gormley, site director at Tulip Ashton, added: “It’s a time of positive change for the Ashton site. The rejuvenation of our facilities and infrastructure will help us to meet the needs of customers going forward and ensure our processes are as efficient as possible. Animal welfare and provenance is a key priority for us, and the upgrades will mean we continue to have the best practices in place, while also allowing us to deliver the highest quality of product possible.​

“In addition, our workforce is delighted at the news of the investment. Improving workplace conditions for our butchers and packing teams will, in turn, help us to retain our workforce and the industry-leading skills we have here at Tulip.”​